WPA chief Paul hails India’s para-sports transformation, calls nation “ideal host” for World Para Athletics Championships
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India is set to make history by hosting the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi from September 27 to October 5, 2025. The event at the famous Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will bring together over 2,200 athletes and support staff from 104 countries, including top world champions and Paralympic medal winners. They’ll compete in 186 medal events—the biggest para sporting spectacle ever in the country.
Paul Fitzgerald, head of World Para Athletics, can’t stop praising India’s rapid rise in para sports. He calls the nation the perfect host, thanks to its huge strides in athlete support, infrastructure, and pushing for inclusivity. “India has transformed para sports over the past decade,” Fitzgerald said in a statement from the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). “The growth in para athletics is remarkable—from just two silver medals at the 2015 Doha Championships to 17 medals, including six golds, at last year’s Kobe event.”
This championship comes at a great time for India, building on the excitement from recent Paralympics. At Tokyo 2020, Indian para athletes grabbed 19 medals, their best ever then. They topped that in Paris 2024 with a stunning 29 medals—seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes—pushing India’s total Paralympic medals past 50.
Fitzgerald highlighted how the event will hook Indian fans and spark more interest in para athletics. “We want to boost visibility and engage audiences nationwide,” he said at the launch of the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 logo and mascot, Viraaj. “With India’s massive youth population, this is a chance to spread inclusivity and inspire the next generation of para athletes.” He added that the championships will lift India’s spot on the global sports stage, empower athletes, and create lasting opportunities.
To get ready, the PCI is revamping Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for top-notch para-friendly facilities. Workers installed a new Mondo track—the same type used at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics—so Indian athletes feel right at home on world-class surfaces. Other upgrades include a dedicated gym for para athletes, accessibility tweaks throughout the stadium, and two new long jump pits, with one built just for para competitors.
Fitzgerald sees these changes as a smart move for India’s sports future. “Hosting big events tests and upgrades infrastructure,” he noted. “This Mondo track will benefit athletes now and motivate kids who’ll see incredible performances here.”
The competition has grown too, with 184 medal events—13 more than in Kobe—including 100 for men, 83 for women, and one mixed. It’s the first time India hosts this major tournament, marking a milestone for para sports in the country.
To share the action with everyone, the PCI teamed up with Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster, as the official partner for the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships. Viewers across homes will celebrate the grit and talent of para athletes, while global stars get a taste of India’s famous hospitality—living up to the saying “Atithi Devo Bhava,” or “the guest is god.”
This event promises to fuel the para sports boom in India, inspiring more participation and turning dreams into reality for athletes of all abilities.
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